Laundry machine having detachable cover



Dec. 11, 1956 T. E. D. BILDE LAUNDRY MACHINE HAVING DETACHABLE COVER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 22, 1952 Dec. l1, 1956 T. E. D. BILDE H3374 LAUNDRY MACHINE HAVING DETACHABLE COVER Filed Jan. 22,11952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INI/ENT R.

/W ,Q7-mamey United States Patent O LAUNDRY MACHINE HAVING DETACHABLE CGVER Tord Erik Daniel Bilde, Stockholm, Sweden, assigner to Aktiebolaget Elektrolux, Stockholm, Sweden, a corporation .of Sweden i Application January 22, 1952, Serial No. 267,655

Claims priority, application Sweden January 23, 1951 9 Claims. (Cl. 685-133) My invention relates to a laundryfmachine having a detachable cover, and is particularly concerned with such a machine in which the marginal edge portion about the top access opening is formed with a downwardly directed surface with which the peripheral edge portion of the Cover is adapted to cooperate when in its closed position.

lt is an object of my invention to provide an improved arrangement in a laundry machine of this type in which the cover is only held in place in its closed position and is detachable when removed to permit access through the top opening, and which embodies provisions for modifying the normal controlof the machine by the single act of removing the cover from its closed position.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an improved arrangement in which the `mechanism for holding the cover in its closed position is disposed within the laundry machine and completely inaccessible for independent manipulation when the cover is in its closed position.

A further object is to provide such an improved arrangement to facilitate the insertion into a laundry receptacle and withdrawal therefrom of a circular cover having a greater diameter than that of a circular access opening for the receptacle.

The above and other objectsand advantages of the invention will be better understood from the following description and accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and of which:

Fig. l is a view more or less diagrammatically illustrating a laundry machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 isa view taken at line 2-2 of Fig. `1 to illustrate details;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional View of the laundry machine shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the laundry machine of Fig. 3, partly broken away, to illustrate details;

Fig. 5 is a View generally similar to Fig. 3 and diiers therefrom in that the cover is shown projecting through the top opening of the laundry machine, additional positions of the cover also being shown in dotted lines; and

Figs. 6 `and 7 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views taken at lines 6-6 and 7-7, respectively, of Fig. 4.

In Figs. l and 2 l have shown my invention embodied in a laundry machine of a type in which an agitator 10 is mounted for oscillation withina container 11. The

container ll is disposed Within an outer shell 12 of the laundry machine which is formed to provide a bottom compartment 14 and a vertically extending compartment 15 alongside the container 1l. The container 11 is formed with a neck portion or collar 16 defining a top opening 17 adapted to be closed by a cover or closure member 18 having a hand grip 19.`

An electric motor 2t) and associated lield windings 21 are connected by several conductors to a suitablesource of electrical supply, a switch 22 being connected in such conductors to control the supply of electrical energy to the motor.` The agitator 10 disposed in the container 11 is xed to a vertically extending shaft 23 arranged fice 2 to be driven by motor 20. A suitable clutch or coupling 24 is provided in the connection between the motor 20 and agitator 10, the coupling including an operating lever 25 which is pivoted at 26 and pivotally connected to a vertically extending control rod or element 27 which .will be described hereinafter.

lt will be understood that suitable provisions may be provided for supplying washing and rinsing liquids to container 1l and for withdrawing liquid therefrom. As shown, liquid may be supplied to container 11 through conduit 28 and Withdrawn therefrom through conduit 29, and suitable control valves 30 and 31 may be provided in the conduits.

As shown in Fig. 3, the top of the laundry machine comprises an apertured plate 32 having an inner llange which extends downwardly and defines the upper region of the top access opening 17. A horizontal wall portion 34 projects radially outward from the lower edge of the flange 33, such wall portion 34 forming an integral part of a larger plate 35 of annular form and at the underside of which the upper end of the collar or neck portion 16 terminates. Hence, when the cover 18 is inserted into position, the horizontal wall portion 34, which is of annular form and more or less ring-shaped, provides a downwardly directed surface with which the outer peripheral portion of the cover 18 cooperates.

A number of locking members 36 are distributed about the neck 16. Each locking member 36 comprises `an inner rounded end portion and an outer cylindrical portion which is movable in a hollow sleeve or tubular element 37. The inner end of each sleeve 37 is fixed at 38 to the collar 16 at the region of an opening therein, a spring 39 being retained under compression wi-thin the sleeve to urge or bias the locking member 36 to its innermost position which is determined by a shoulder or stop 4) formed Within the sleeve.l

In order to insert the cover 18 into position and remove the cover completely from the container 11, the plate 32 defining the top opening 17 is formed with a pair of recesses or notches 41 diametrically opposite one another, as best seen in Fig. 4. When Fig 7, which is a View at one of the recessed regions 4l, is compared with Fig. 6, it will be evident that the vertically extending wall portion 33 at the region of the recesses or notches 4l is essentially Hush with the eXtreme upper end section of the collar 16 of the container 11. Hence, the recessed regions 4l are characterized by the absence of the horizontal wall portion 34 which permits the cover 1S to be moved sideways through the top opening l in the manner shown in solid lines in Fig. 5. After more than one-half of the cover has moved past the recessed regions 4l, the cover can conveniently be tilted to the uppermost position seen in dotted lines in Fig. 5 and then moved to the lower horizontal position indicated in dotted lines. When the cover 18 is :in the horizontal dotted line position shown in Fig. 5, which may be re- 4 ferred to `as an intermediate position below 'the plane in which the downwardly facing surface of member 34 is disposed, it is then raised to bring the top peripheral edge portion thereof against the horizontal wall portion 3d. With such upward movement of the cover 18, the extreme edges of the cover act against the rounded inner ends of the locking members 36 and cause the latter to move a sufficient distance against the biasing action of the springs 39 to allow the edge of the cover to move past the locking members. After the cover has been moved` upwardly past the locking members, the latter are immediately moved radially inward under the action of the springs 39 and effectively hold the cover 18 in its closed position.

` While l have shown the locking members 36 formed with inner rounded ends, it should be understood that the locking members may be formed with any suitable beveled Surface which will enable the cover to be moved past the locking members when the peripheral edge of the cover acts against the inner ends of the locking mernbers. When the cover 1.8v is to be removed from its closed position, it is pushed downwardly from the solid line position in Fig. 3 to the lower dotted line position in Fig. 5 and then tilted to the vertical positions shown to withdraw the cover through the ytop opening 17 while the peripheral edge portions thereof are located in the recessed portions or notches 41.

In the preferred embodiment shown and just described the top access opening 17 and cover 18 are both of circular shape. The mechanical provision-s described for holding and supporting the cover are only effective to hold the cover while it is i-n a closed position. When the cover is pushed downwardly from its closed position, the holding mem-bers 36 are immediately inelfective to hold and support the cover and the latter is completely free of any attachment and can b'e easily removed from within the receptacle of the laundry machine. Further, the mechanical provisions for holding the cover 18 in its closed position are disposed within the laundry machine and are rendered operable to hold the cover only in the act of manually holding and moving the cover to its closed position. Also, the holding members 36 provided are rendered inoperable to hold the cover responsive solely to movement of the cover inwardly from its closed position at the region of the top access opening 1'7 of the laundry machine.

In accordance with my invention, protective mechanism is provided which will interrupt the operation of the laundry machine in the event the cover 18 is removed from its closed position. Such protective mechanism comprises the elongated control rod or element 27 which is provided with a manually operable knob 42 at its upper end and is pivotally connected at its lower end to the clutch operating lever 25 and to the motor control switch 22. The elongated control element 27 is biased upwardly by a spring 43 disposed about a portion of the control element between the bottom of compartment and an enlargement or shoulder 44 provided on the control element. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a member 45 is fixed to `and forms a part of one of the locking members 36, such member extending into the compartment 15 and having a bifurcated end 46 whose arms or branches envelop the elongated control element 27.

When the cover 18 is in its closed position, the locking member 36 at the right-hand side in Fig. 1 assumes such a position that the bifurcated end 46 of member 45 frictionally engages the control element 27 and a lixed block 47 on the control element, which bears against the underside of the member 45, is held in place and prevented from moving7 upward. Under such conditions the clutch 24 remains in an engaged position to render motor operable to drive the agitator 10 and the motor switch 22 remains in its closed position.

In the event the cover 18 should be removed from the closed position shown in Fig. 3, the right-hand locking member 36 moves toward the left by movement imparted thereto by its associated spring 39. In such case the bifurcated end i6 of member 45 no longer frictionally engages control element 27 and spring 43 then can become effective to move the control element 27 upwardly, such upward movement of the control element being effective to open switch 22 and shift lever 25 to disengage motor 20 from the agitator lti. When it is desired to start operation of the laundry machine, the control knob 42 is moved downwardly and the cover 18 then xed in position. With the cover 18 again in its closed position, the bifurcated end 46 4of the member 45 will then frictionally engage the control element 27, such bifurcated end acting as a stop against which the block 47 bears torender spring 43 ineffective to impart upward movement to the control element 27.

ln Figs. l and 2 it will be understood that either the motor switch 22 or clutch L24 alone can be operatively associated with the control element 27. When the control element 27 is employed to control the clutch 24, the switch 22 may be replaced, ifV desired, with a conventional manually operable switch accessible from the eX- terior of the laundry machine.

In view of ythe foregoing, itv will now `be understood that l have provided an arrangement for inserting into position within the container 1th the circular cover 18 of rter crosssectional area than the circular top opening i7. Since both the cover 18 and opening 17 are of circular shape, it is not necessary to turn the cover 18 to a set or particular position preparatory to sideways or edgewise movement thereof through the opening 17 at the vicinity of the notches 41 at the marginal edge portion about the opening. Also, it is not necessary to turn or twist the cover 29 by its handle 19 to a set or particular position when being moved upwardly from its lower horizontal position, as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 5, to its final position of rest seen in Figs. 1 and 3. Hence, in positioning the cover 18 within the container to its closed position, no special manipulating of the cover is required other than moving it sideways through the top opening at the vicinity of the notches 41 in the marginal edge portion and then simply raising the cover to its iinal position of rest.

The holding members 36 for holding and supporti-ng the cover 1S are only effective to hold the cover while it is in a `closed position. When the cover is pushed downwardly from its closed position, the holding members 36 are immediately ineffective to hold and support the cover 15 and the latter is completely free of attachment and can be easily removed from the interior of the container 11. In the preferred embodiment shown and described above, the holding members 36 are fully rounded and not likely to be moved readily if a hand should contact Stich parts by reason of the relatively strong spring bias of these parts to theirinnermost positions.

The holding members 36 are rendered operable to hold the cover 18 solely in the act'oli` manually moving the cover to its closed posi-tion. Hence, no special manipulation of a locking lever is necessary after the cover is moved to its closed position to lock the cover in place. Also, the holding members 36 are disposed within the laundry machine and completely inaccessible for independent manipulation ywhen the cover is in its closed position.

The control provisions described include the elongated vertically disposed element 27 with which the movable part 45 is operatively associated. The movable part 45 is biased to an innermost first position by the spring 39 when the cover 18 is removed from its closed position and is movable to a second outer position responsive to mounting of the cover in its closed position. In such second position, it will be seen that the part is ineffective to prevent removal of the cover 18 from its closed position.

The part 45 is associated with the control element 27 and, as previously explained, is operable only upon removal of the cover 18 from its closed position to act upon the control element 27 in such a way that the normal control of the agitator 10 will be altered and modified and render the latter ineffective to operate upon laundry being cleansed within the container 11.

Although I have shown and described a single embodiment of my invention, I do not desire to be limited to the particular arangements set forth. Therefore, I intend in the claims to cover all modilications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a laundry machine having a receptacle formed with an access opening and a cover therefonthe access opening being defined by a rim having an inner face, means for holding the cover in a closed position at the access opening with the peripheral edge thereof located against the inner face of the rim, mechanism for effecting at least one step in the Washing of laundry in the receptacle, and control means for starting and stopping said mechanism, said control means including structure operable to stop said mechanism responsive to movement of the cover from its closed position at the access opening.

2. In combination with a laundry machine having a receptacle formed with an access opening and a cover therefor, the access opening being defined by a rim having an inner face, means for holding the cover in a closed position at the access opening with the peripheral edge thereof located against the inner face of the rim, mechanism for eifecting at least one step in the washing of laundry in the receptacle, control means for starting and stopping said mechanism, and means for rendering said control means operable to start said mechanism when the cover is in its closed position and for rendering said control means operable to stop said mechanism responsive to movement of the cover from its closed position.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which said holding means comprises a plurality of movable members distributed about the access opening, and means associated with said members to urge the latter in one direction to their cover holding positions when the cover is in its closed position at the access opening.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which said urging means is resilient in character.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which said holding means comprises a plurality of movable members distributed about the access opening and means for resiliently biasing said members in one direction to their cover holding positions when the cover is in its closed position at the access opening, said members being movable in the opposite direction against the action of said resilient means responsive to physical contact of said members by the cover during movement thereof to and from its closed position.

6. In combination with a laundry machine having a receptacle formed with an access opening which is essentially round and a cover therefor having a cross-sectional area greater than that of the access opening, the access opening being defined by a rim having an inner face, diametrically opposed regions of the rim having a gap therebetween sutiiciently wide for the cover to be moved sideways therethrough into the interior of the receptacle and. be withdrawn therefrom, means for holding the cover only while the latter is in a closed position at the access opening with the peripheral edge portion thereof located against the inner face of the rim, mechanism for elfecting at least one step in the washing of laundry in the receptacle, and control means for starting and stopping said mechanism, said control means including structure operable to stop said mechanism responsive to movement of the cover from its closed position at the access opening.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim "6 in which said cover holding means is disposed within the laundry machine and completely inaccessible for independent manipulation when the cover is in its closed position at the access opening.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 in which said cover holding means comprises a plurality of movable members and means for resiliently biasing said members in one direction toward their cover holding positions when the cover is in its closed position at the access opening.

9. In combination with a laundry machine having a receptacle formed with an access opening of substantially circular shape and a cover therefor having a diameter greater than that of the access opening, the access opening beingdened by a rim having an inner face, diametrically opposed regions of the rim having a gap therebetween suiciently wide for the cover to be moved sideways therethrough into the interior of the receptacle and be withdrawn therefrom, means for holding the cover only while the latter is in a closed position at the access opening with the peripheral edge portion thereof located against the inner face of the rim, mechanism for effecting at least one step in the washing of laundry in the receptacle, control means for starting and stopping said mechanism, and means for rendering said control means operable to start said mechanism when the cover is in its closed position and for rendering said control means operable to stop said mechanism responsive to movement of the cover from its closed position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,006,523 Bartholomew Oct. 24, 1911 1,117,268 Snyder Nov. 17, 1914 1,635,402 Getz July 12, 1927 1,682,212 Borsheim Aug. 28, 1928 1,959,732 Meyer May 22, 1934 1,964,440 Patch June 26, 1934 1,979,839 Morgenstern Nov. 6, 1934 1,989,213 Schenck Jan. 29, 1935 2,135,685 Wells Nov. 8, 1938 2,176,954 Clark Oct. 24, 1939 

